Cyclometer indicator mechanism for twenty-four hour cyclometer clocks



Aprll 28, 1953 A. HOLZNER 2,636,339

CYCLOMEITER INDICATOR MECHANISM FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOUR CYCLOMETER CLOCKS 2SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed March 2, 1949 TJC'J.

MASK

24 HOURS INVENTOR. 14004; ,%4zA/R.

TTORNEY.

M/wrss MASK April 28, 1953 A. HOLZNER 2,636,339

CYCLOMETER INDICATOR MECHANISM FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOUR CYCLOMETER CLOCKS 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed March 2, 1949 INVENTOR.

16 04 Z/V P BY/m ATTOR/VEY Patented Apr. 28, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CYCLOMETER INDICATOR MECHANISM FOR TWENTY-FOUR HOUR CYCLOM- ETERCLOCKS 21 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cyclometer clocks and more particularly to anovel design of clock mechanisms which will meet certain requirementsfor simplicity, attractive appearance and advantageous operation.

It is an object of my invention to provide a novel 24-hour cyclometerclock, the drum dials of which are driven intermittently to show thehours and minutes by means of large numerals exposed through a Windowopening in the case.

Another object is to provide a novel gear train for intermittentmovement of the number wheels of a 24-hour cyclometer clock in suchmanner that the tens and units digits of the hour are properly displayedon two number wheels having an irregular stepping schedule.

Again, it is among the objects of my invention to provide a cyclometerclock having a plurality of aligned drum dials which surround their geartrain, the arrangement being such that the dial which shows seconds isrotated continuously and the other dials are stepped quickly from one tothe next indicating position where they rest for suitable periods tocorrectly indicate the time of a 24-hour day.

five drum dials and a gear train which is mounted within the dials. Thecase 61 has a rectangular window 62, for the seconds and minutes drums,and another window 63 for the drums which indicate the hours. There isalso a hole 64 in the case which gives access to two knurled wheels 44and 50 for independently setting the drums for the minutes and for thehours.

A main frame 65, which may be a casting, is secured within the casingand has bearings therein for certain of the spindles or shafts. Twobearing plates 66 and Bl serve to support certain of the spindles, whilean end member 68 provides a base for a driving motor 38.

Referring now to Fig. 2, I show therein, an arrangement of coaxiallymounted drum dials of which dial 3| is marked to show the seconds.

1 Dial 32 is marked with ten numerals to show Other objects include theprovision of means for independently setting the minute dials in oneoperation and the hour dials in another operation.

Still other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparentin the description to follow. Among these is the provision of cyclometerindicator means counting up to a predetermined maximum number comprisingdigits other than 9s, as for example, 2359, or 359. This description isaccompanied by drawings, the several figures of which may be brieflymentioned as follows:

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the clock with its drumdials and enclosed ear mechanism,

Fig. 2 shows an expanded view of the gear mechanism,

Figs. 3 and 5 show certain mutilated gears which are used in the geartrain,

Figs. 4 and 6 show Geneva movements which are associated with themutilated gears of Figs. 3 and 5, respectively,

Fig. '7 shows a developed outline of the hour and minute drums.

Fig, 8 is a timing diagram which shows continuous and intermittentoperation of various members in the clock mechanism.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a clock-case 6| of substantially cylindricalform is arranged to house the units of minutes. Dial 33 is marked withsix numerals to show the tens of minutes. Dial 34 is marked with tennumerals to show the units of hours and dial 35 is marked with asuccession of four zeros and the numerals 1 and 2 to show the tens ofhours on a 24-hour basis. The four zeroes are successively displayedduring the hours 00, 01, 02 and the last zero for a seven-hour periodfrom 03 to 09 inclusive.

The broken line 36 serves to indicate that there is a continuation ofthe spindle 3'! in the two parts of the figure, these two parts beingseparated in order to show the entire gear train on one sheet ofdrawings. The coaxial alignment of all the drum dials will, therefore,be understood.

My novel clock design lends itself to being driven either by a synchronus clock motor or by a spring-wound motor. Where a dependablevoltage-regulated D. C. power supply is available, a constant speed D.C. motor may be substituted for a synchronous motor. For the sake ofaccurate timing, however, the synchronous motor drive is preferred. Inany event, the motor 38 is arranged to drive the spindle 39 continuouslyat a rate of 1 revolution per minute.

The drum 3! for showing seconds is fixedly mounted on the shaft 39. Itis graduated to bring the seconds markings progressively past a fixedindex. The shaft 39 extends throu h two independently rotatable bushingsl and 48. A finger gear I, and a Geneva cam 40 are fixedly mounted onthe shaft 39. Gear I has two teeth which intermittently engage with afull gear 2 and cause rotation of the latter through a quarter of arevolution each time of meshing. A bushing 4| carries the gear 2 andalso a Geneva 3 cam 42 which is normally locked against rotation byriding on the periphery of a cam 48, but can turn when a depression inthe cam 40 is brought around with the teeth of the finger gear I. d

The bushing also carries ajull gean-iilwhich meshes with anothr gear iin a 'l: lj ratio As shown in Fig. 1, gear 4 and knurled wheel 44 aremounted on a hub-like extension 49 of gear. 5 and these three elements,constitute a mil tary member which slips freel aft manipulation of wheel44 both axially and rotatively gears 3 and 4 may be thrown out of meshso as to set the units and tens; drums- 32;; and 33 for the minutesregistration gears {i andfi are at all times intermesh'e'd.

Full gears 5, 6 and 1 are rotated intermittently; at the rate of onestep jper minute, due to the intermittent; aciioii -Qf; il e fnigeriseer h Qeg Bi's-anidler between gearsifi -and l. p, duction :of gear. 1;yvith .r.espect tdgear 5 of"2.-5;: l;i This sea reduct qtl' i t hi aligelj 1-makes onevvrevnlutign; eyery ten. but in ten intermittentqstepsper revolution. 1.; Gear :lil mountedmn hollowtshaf t 45 drives theunits-of-minutes "dialwh'ch i also mounted on this sameh The hollow;shait carries th-zd% ear I, and'tl'ie driving-fingergear 3,as ell as a(3e cam 46: The periphery, of-

one or anotheileoi ix; concav wheel -.;A recess; the per p ery otthee mi6 permits turning of the star wheel when gear e'isfdriven'bygear8:; ADriven gear-Bl; drive gee y I, I r 4.1- are r'noimtedzxon a cqminon;bushing, which is li'yedito'aishait 3.1. ,Also keyed to this shaftanother-finger gear 12,-.

' iGears the and; y meshedin a 1:1 ra andgear t! abushihg 48,1130 ;wh ich;a;hub @Rqior. minute's drum is isamxedi The {l reits revolution,{thereforge, -in 'Si -X-LSQCQQSQ atcgeach step of -which-it exposes one,its s13;

a its tentl-y with a jr ull; gear l-t, latter'being ries a thick gear I4and a prov des forsettingthekunits and tens druins 3.4; 315 whichindicate the he ue mn 9i these drumsi-isi facili t ot the shaft; 43, soaswto displace gear with reir ct' it iei esh n pen trate i T 39 1-dependent m 'ui atidn' o urlldhw e s a d, tuefacih age has setting. M 1?W1 dies r" ii hoiitl" t rn' ig h r e t p slima ,i:ro ns-1- A. Sin erplaceahle -gearxsetting ,arra ent isshown. and c a ed ngmr iib' Iidins''vp 9i; al N was leso hbier 2, a. sses-pie pl tidn..S fiaL'Nn';5916 3filed Meir-25 94 i rai edy t e btained; only hy a'dgh successive red:nufnb'eiio f resulted. The

t n the es were; complished by openingthe circuit of the cloc motor justas the seconds drum reach a Q-read- 75 ar e constantly inter-meshed.They have a 3 to 1 gear ratio, so that gear rotate once a day in 4:hourly steps. This movement will be und ood p "noting that gear l3rotates through /5 a 'revolution each time of its inv ter nittent hourlymeshing with the finger gear I 2."

I T-h-hubBM-Eig. 1) carries gear [5, a mutilatedggear [6,, anothermutilated gear 18, and two Geneva cams 52 and 53, which engagerespectiyely with star wheels 54 and 55. In Fig. 2, th gseparation 'pfthese five members 'made it necessary-tofshow the hub 51 as though itwere a'flo'ng shaftfbut actually it is relativel'y short. Mutilatedge'arit drives a pinion H which is mounted with star wheel 54' on-vahshaft.55 extended through the hubs of pinio n l9 and gear 22 to; a hushingFad-which supports. the tens-ofhour's drum-35. P-inio'ril-w. and. cam 55have a common hub which is loosely mounted on shaft The mutilatedg'earllfilhas: isolated teeth I il B 'and'- H;-- also a: group of. fouradjacent teeth. The angular positionsof teethfiili and H20" are suchtha'tthese teeth will mesh with the piniond'l on hours 10 and 20;respectively. The resulting :intermittent motions applied through shaftidto the tensed-hours drum prTovi'de for'the display of the figures i,and 2 when drivenbyLte'eth 1 El: and H28, respectively. Other movementsapplied to the. drum take place'when-th'e'pinion l1 isvdriven by thefour adjacent teeth oi the mutilated, gear l6. At each -of thesepositions a different numeral 0! is brought into view through the window63, and this'display taks place; during the hours 0,2 up to 09. Thereason for; displayin a succession of zeros will beexplainedhereinaften, The intermittent movementseofadrum 35, when it is necessaryto actuate. the same, are made on the hour, but this drum ha certainrest periodsextending lover. periods in. which. difierent numerals-ar'edisplayed; by. the aunits-of-hours drum Sit.

The mutilated gearv 18 has, twenty teeth which mesh-witha pinion-.l.9,acting as an intermedi: ate idler pinionwith respect to gears 68 and 29.Gear 21l-ismounted on encounter-shaft 51 along with the full gear. 2:13,Where, the latter meshes witha gearZL-mountediQn a hub which extendsthrough the pivot plate 61 and; ,support s the units-of-hours drum 3A.Gears Zl-;- and 22 ;have a 1:1 ratio, twhercas gearsill-and gc hayea' izg 5 ratio. These gear ratios provide that the units oi -hours drumshallerotate twiceduringeach 24-hour period, but because this drum, i-smasked during; thehours: 00, 0 h and 02, it first displays its 3 uponbeing; unmaskedgandi afterwards shows the units: digits for successive,hours 84 to fi2a iinclusive. i I 1 During periods when pinion- -l'lisnot meshed with any teeth. oithe mutilated. gear IS, the countershaft 56: is held from. turningbyi means o f-wthe start wheel- 54...inengagement with the periphery of the'Geneva cam. 52.7 The engagement ofstar wheel witlrthe. periphery of thefli ei ye, 9 m a o t es againstproper turning of pinion IQ' while-disengaged from the teeth of gear l8.A resilient detent 69 pressing lightly against the teeth of gear I4serves to prevent mis-alignment of the mesh between gears l3 and I2during manipulation of the setting wheel 50. Further means formaintaining alignment may be optionally provided by the mounting of alocking cam such as 46 along side of gear I 2 to be normally meshed withan 8-point star wheel similar to star wheel 47, but which would bemounted on shaft 43.

From the foregoing description of the gear train, it will be seen thatthe 6-tooth pinion I! is driven by the mutilated gear 56, through onerevolution per day in six steps which are taken at the commencement ofthe hours 10, 20, 00, 01, 02 and 03. Pinion H on spindle 56 drives thetens-of-hours drum so as to display the numerals for the tens-of-hoursas indicated in the previous sentence. Additionally, however, thenumerals for the units-of-hours D, 1 and 2 are also displayed by themasking portion of drum 35 at their proper times. The masking functionlasts for three hours, being within a rest period of five hours for theunits-of-hours drum. Throughout this five-hour rest period the maskednumeral 3 stands in front of the window.

Now, to recapitulate the operation of the gear train for intermittentmovement of the minutes and hours drums, it will be seen that on eachengagement of the finger gear I with gear 2,

motion is transmitted once per minute through gears 3, 4, 5, 5 and l, tothe units-of-minutes drum 32 and turns this drum of a revolution todisplay a different number each minute. Through the intermittent gearreduction provided by gears 8 and 9, and through gears 19 and H, motionis transmitted intermittently to the tens-of minutes drum 33 so as torotate this drum in six equal steps at ten minute intervals through onerevolution per hour.

By operation of the finger gear i2 in mesh with gear 13 and through thegearing that extends to the mutilated gears l6 and [8, a compositeresult is obtained which causes hourly movements of the units and tensdrums. These movements are irregularly timed as follows: At thecommencement of hours 00, 01 and 02, the unit 3 stands under the windowbut is masked by the units figures on the right side of the tens drum.At the comm ncement of the hour 03, the tens-drum exposes its fourthsuccessive zero on the left side, through the window 63 and exposes theunits-of-hours drum to display the numeral 3. Drum 34 is now at thebeginning of its twenty-step course and takes each step at the beginningof each hour. When the unit 6 is exposed for the first time by the unitsdrum, the tens drum steps from 0 to 1 in the tens-digit column andleaves the units-drum exposed for a full revolution. When the unit "0 ofthe units drum is exposed for the second time, the tens-drum steps toexpose the numeral 2 in the tens-digit column and leaves the units-drumexposed for four hours, during which it is stepped to display its ownnumbers 0, l, 2 and 3. At the end of time 23:59, the tens-drum steps to00, thereby masking the 3 on the units drum. So the cycle of operationsis repeated every twenty-four hours.

W'i single drum with the ten consecutive numerals 6-9 occupying the tenrespective lid-degree segments thereof as shown or may equally wellcomprise a pair of nested drums for enlarged numerals occupying(SO-degree segments as taught ll be readily apparent, drum 34 may be a Iin my U. S. Patent No. 2,351,814, with their accompanying alternatelyoperatingv step drive means as described therein employed where gears 2|and 22 are shown in Fig. 2 of the present application.

It should be noted that the intermittent movement provided by the fingergear I causes a complete step to be taken by the units-ofminutes drum 32from one to another indication. In an embodiment which I haveconstructed, this movement takes place within a period of approximatelyfive seconds and is completed to show the commencement of each minuteindication when the seconds drum passes from 59 to 00 seconds. At tenminute intervals the intermittent movement of the tens-of-minutes drum33 takes place. This movement also is completed within a period ofapproximately five seconds. Drum however, must move through of arevolution in this'time as against of a revolution for theunits-of-minutes drum 32.

Considering also the nominal five-second period for the movement of thedrums, this period applies equally well to the two drums 34 and 35 forshowing the hours. In the case of drum 34, its step extends through of arevolution and in the case of the tens-of-hours drum 35, its stepextends through of a revolution. Hourly movement is provided by thefinger gear l2 and the motion applied to gear l3 during each engagementis completed within a period of approximately five seconds. Thus it isprovided that the large numerals on drums 32 and 33 stand at rest andare fully exposed for a period of at least 55 seconds during everyminute and on the hours drums 34 and 35 for 59 minutes 55 seconds duringevery hour.

Fig. 8 is a timing diagram. The horizontal band 10 indicates continuousrotation of the motor shaft 8!, shaft 39 and the seconds drum 3|. Themarks along line H indicate motions of 5 seconds each, made once perminute by members 2, 5, 5, 6, l, 8 and drum 32. The marks along line 12indicate motions at lO-minute intervals made by members 9, [0, ll anddrum 33. The marks on lines 13, I4 and iii indicate hourly steps takenby members l3, l6 and I B respectively. Lines l6, l1 and 18 show thesame steps as on lines T3, T4 and 15, but on a 24- hour scale. Line 19shows the hours at which stepping movements are applied to pinion ll,shaft 55 and drum 35. Line shows the hours at which stepping movementsare applied to pinion l9, gears 20, 2|, 22 and drum 34.

It will be apparent that it would not require the exercise of inventionto adapt my novel gear train to the operational control of fiat disksfor displaying numerals in front of a flat window opening.

While I have'described in detail an exemplary embodiment of myinvention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, that thenovel features of the invention itself may be incorporated into clocksof other design without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

One of the matters of design variation which involves no departure fromthe spirit and scope of the invention should be specifically brought outas follows: There is no necessity for introducing the 5-hour rest periodin respect to the units-of-hours drum 34 at the particular part of itscycle when the numeral 3 faces the window opening 63. A phase shift ofthe four grouped teeth on mutilated gear IS with respect to teeth HIDand H20 may be made so as to units of hours, and an hour-indicatingnumber wheel havinga masking portion extending therefrom which extendsangularly half-way around its circumference and overlies theunits-of-hours wheel, said hour-indicating number wheel bearing suitablenumerals for making indications which at times include both tens andunits order indications.

7. The combination according to claim 6 and including motor drivenintermittent gear train I means for driving said number wheels stepwiseand on a schedule indicating the hours and minutes.

8. The combination according to claim '7, wherein one of saidintermittent gear trains is operable on the hour for 20 hours toprogres- H sively expose the units-of-hours numerals 4 to 9 inclusiveand to 3 inclusive, said gear train having substantially a five hourrest period during which the numeral 3 stands in the indicating positionbut is masked by said masking number wheel during the hours 00, 01 and02.

9. In combination, a clock case defining window means, a plurality ofdrum dials therein for a 24-hour cyclometer system, one dial of whichdisplays ten numerals successively in the units place for indicatingminutes, a second dial of which displays six numerals successively inthe tens place for indicating tens of minutes,

a third dial of which displays ten numerals successively in the unitsplace for indicating hours, and a fourth dial for stepwise rotation in60 steps for indicating tens of hours, this fourth dial being providedWith a semi-cylindrical portion which overlies said third dial anddisplays three numerals successively in the units-of-hours place whilemasking that portion 1 said third dial which is then presented to saidclock case window means, and means including a motor driven intermittentgear train for advancing said dials in angular steps at the" tion perminute.

12. The combination according to claim 9 and including locking means ofthe Geneva cam type for maintaining an alignment of the numerals whichare displayed through said clock case window means and appear on theperipheries of said drum.

13. In a cyclometer clock, first and second rotatable drum members fordisplaying in different digital places the tens and units numeralsrepresenting the hours, said first member having a masking portion whichoverlies said second member during certain hours, means including anintermittent gear train for angularly advancing said first memberstep-by-step and in accordance with a timing schedule that causes thetens and units numerals for certain hours to be displayed by said firstmember while it masks said second member and thereafter unmasks saidsecond member, and means for angularly advancing said second member to.10 progressively display its numerals in the unitsof-hours place whileunmasked, the same numeral on said second member being brought intodisplay for an hour preceding, and an hour following the masking period.

14. In a cyclometer clock having dial drums for the individual displayof indicia in different digital places and for telling the time in hoursand minutes, first and second independent manual setting devices for thehours drums and the minutes drums respectively, a common driving powersource, first intermittent drive means for driving said minutes drumsfrom said driving power source, second intermittent drive means fordriving said hours drums from said minutes drums, said first and secondintermittent drive means comprising means for regularly advancing saidminutes and hours drums suitably for telling the time, a gear in saidsecond intermittent drive means coupled to said first manual settingdevice and axially shiftable and angularly adjustable under the controlthereof, said gear being coupled to said hours drums and being axiallydisengageable from coupling to said minutes drums upon axial movement,and a further gear in said first intermittent drive means coupled tosaid second manual setting device and axially shiftable and angularlyadjustable under the control thereof, said further gear being coupled tosaid minutes drum and being axially disengageable from coupling to saiddriving power source.

15. In a cyclometer clock having drum dials for the individual displayof numerals in different digital places and for telling the time inhours and minutes, a motor having an output shaft, a gear train couplingsaid output shaft of said motor to the minutes dials, a second geartrain coupling the first gear train to the hours dials, manuallyoperable uncoupling means efiective upon a portion of the first saidgear train to free it from the driving power of the motor, thereby toset the minutes dials, and a second manually operable uncoupling meanseffective upon a portion of the second said gear train to free it fromthe driving power of the first said gear train and to set the hoursdials independently of the first said gear train.

16. The combination according to claim 2 and including first and secondsetting means independently operable to position the hour-displayingmembers and the minute-displaying members, respectively, said firstsetting means comprising means for interrupting said intermittent geartrain means between said hourdisplaying members and said driving meanstherefor, and said second setting means comprising means forinterrupting said intermittent gear train to free said minute-displayingmembers from coupling to said driving means therefor, whereby theminute-displaying members and the hour-displaying members may beseparately set without drive interference.

17. In combination, a series of number wheels including a first numberwheel, a second number wheel, and a third number wheel, said wheelsbeing aligned, said third number wheel having a segmental portionmaslnng said second number wheel at a series of angular positions ofsaid third wheel and exposing the registering numeral of said secondnumber wheel at all other positions of said third wheel, said thirdwheel having a series of numerals on said segmental masking portion, andmeans responsive to completed cycles of said first number wheel forprodin interm t en ste e. ed en emfim 95 $5 ajs ior'lsi n h r wh s,saidlas -nem imse .;includ n .@m ans i0 1. dva in said s q g d nu b r wl ens-di i tp p rnqwrefe s i xfirst wheel and adqaricipg sa ig thirelheel one estenper iunnfli: Sa pcpndhwbfifiljfinfi ma asarriesiing sa dqqnd; he l w en. mask d a -ladvancin Said th d W e O 5??? 9 m 3.201 saifir t. whee un l,.,aid men al, p r n ;,is adv n d pe n th po ti o maskre isterinsnum f m hsai q n l. eels-s 1 8..Mu11p1 v -sml mera ndi a n -ams c,@m r ,.s.. g..a '.i.9f numb ivhlsy sw e s erwe e in res ective t Yif' S numh rwheel :m nwide. a m i i a f 'fibtal eadin "'ligermi tpentmppion ,grive means ill 1 1581- s.emlplin fie qhwl er r 5 numb r WhfilWi n xt; i he o d r um r whe iP Pr? d v n ulamdvanq men r heh ghe' ifiwdiwlie s her of inqicating a. series of numbers wherein the 5mm 's rm' smmms Date. 7

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